What you don’t know about BBL players. Quirky facts about Sixers, Thunder guns

One is best mates with a star from a footy code, while another does magic tricks. Find out about the weird and wonderful facts behind some of your favourite BBL players.

Things you may not know about BBL cricketers.

Who loves his sleep more than anything? Who used to be an ace at magic tricks?

Whose dad put in nets over a swimming pool at the family home? Who was a fan boy who got his mini bat signed by players who are now his teammates and rivals?

They ply their trade in front of hundreds of thousands on TV watching their every move in the BBL.

But what are the players from Sydney Thunder and the Sydney Sixers really like behind the scenes.

We throw the spotlight on some of the more interesting players from both squads.

Thunder's Arjun Nair come back for two during the BBL match between the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder.

ARJUN NAIR, SYDNEY THUNDER

He was born in Canberra and now lives in Sydney.

Nair made his first grade debut at just 15 for Hawkesbury and his first class debut for NSW at 17.

Nair has had enormous family support over the years with his dad actually deciding to install cricket nets at their home in Sydney’s west rather than a swimming pool.

Some of the things the all-rounder and right-hander likes to do away from cricket include playing chess and in the past, doing magic tricks.

Ben Manenti celebrating the dismissal of Sam Harper of the Renegades.

BEN MANENTI, SYDNEY SIXERS

The son of Australian Rugby Sevens women’s coach John, Manenti admits he was a late bloomer in cricket, only really starting to make a mark when selected in under 19 rep team.

Like Nair, his father has been a big supporter of his career, building him nets at the family home in Sydney’s inner west so he could practice as a teenager.

Manenti actually played rugby all through school but opted to choose cricket when given the chance to make his Premier Cricket first great debut while doing the HSC.

Recently took up running during coronavirus lockdown and has reaped the benefits with his new hobby stripping kilos of his frame.

Tanveer Sangha catches out Imad Wasim of the Renegades during the Big Bash League match.

TANVEER SANGHA, SYDNEY THUNDER

The Ingleburn right arm leg spinner walks out for the Campbelltown Camden Ghosts in Premier Cricket and was thrust into the limelight when he took five wickets in three matches for the Australian under 19s back in 2018.

The young legspinner loves his Netflix, table tennis and basketball – and his sleep.

“Sometimes I wake up after 19 hours,” he said But Tanveer said he usually enjoys just 11 to 12 hours.

Jack Edwards in action against the Perth Scorchers.

JACK EDWARDS, SYDNEY SIXERS

A young all-rounder who has been turning heads for many years and was in the Australian squad for the 2018 u19 Cricket World Cup.

He has a brother, Mickey, who is also a talented cricketer.

Edwards grew up inspired by the likes of Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

Describes himself as “pretty laid-back’’ and is also a handy golfer, playing of a handicap of just six. One of the taller players in the game at close to 200cm.

Chris Green celebrates with Callum Ferguson after dismissing Ben Dunk of the Stars.

CHRIS GREEN, SYDNEY THUNDER

Green could just have easily become a professional tennis player over a pro cricketer.

Both of the South African born all-rounders parents were good enough to play at Wimbledon and he also was good enough to secure a scholarship to the US as a teenager which he declined to take up in favour of cricket.

His brother Cameron has pursued the tennis route while he has made his mark in cricket while doing a university degree in business, majoring in management and consulting.

Jason Sangha was identified as a rising star of the sport in his teens.

JASON SANGHA SYDNEY THUNDER

Just 21, the young right-handed bat was identified as a future star of the sport early in the game when he became the second youngest player behind Sachin Tendulkar to score a century against England win just 18.

Sangha’s father was an extremely talented athlete who was India’s 400m champion and successful over numerous other distances.

His son did not follow in his footsteps, instead falling for cricket as a youngster living near Coogee Oval.

A cricket fan boy, Sangha used to ask players to sign his mini bat and they obliged, including the likes of Shane Watson, Moises, Henriques, Doug Bollinger, Steve O’Keefe and Trent Copeland.

Ollie Davies is great mates with a soccer young gun.

OLLIE DAVIES, SYDNEY THUNDER

The 20-year-old from Sydney‘s northern beaches has nets in his backyard like many other players but one thing that is different is he also has chooks!

Davies says he is a great “chatterbox’’ and when he made his debut he asked people to talk to him constantly to help calm his nerves.

His love of cricket started in the backyard with his father, older sister and younger brother and was also a talented tennis player who could have moved forward in the sport but for his love of cricket.

He is also an avid surfer who loves PlayStation to help him relax and is great mates with Sydney FC talent Calem Nieuwenhof.

Ben Dwarshuis bowling during the match against the Sydney Sixers.

BEN DWARSHUIS, SYDNEY SIXERS

An all-rounder and left-hand bat, left arm fast medium bowler, Dwarshuis has overcome some of the biggest obstacles of any player in the game.

The Sutherland cricketer suffered repeat stress fractures in his back and required surgery almost two years ago.

“The surgeon put a couple of nails through the vertebrae and wrapped some wire around for stability … that’s the simplified version,” he said

He has one of the most recognisable moustaches in the game and is of Dutch heritage.

Baxter Holt in action back in 2019 before his break.

BAXTER HOLT SYDNEY THUNDER

Another cricketer identified as a talent at a young age who made his first grade debut in 2017 with Northern Districts are just 17.

Holt did his hamstring four times in a year and discovered he had a bulging disc pressing on a nerve.

He had to teach himself to move in a different manner, how to walk again how to play cricket again to take the pressure off his back and it worked.

He had played with these injuries for 18 months before being forced to stop by the pain.

Justin Avendano playing a shot during the Big Bash League.

JUSTIN AVENDANO, SYDNEY SIXERS

The right handed batter from the Central Coast could be one of the busiest cricketers in the BBL.

Avendano is the General Manager of his family’s business, Freddy’s, one of Australia’s leading outdoors retailers.

He is also a dab hand at golf, playing off scratch, and is an accomplished fisherman.

There is a lot you might not know about BBL cricketers.

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Originally published as What you don’t know about BBL players. Quirky facts about Sixers, Thunder guns